Bulldogs Clinch Head of the Housatonic

(Tim Bennett photo)

Oct 09, 2011

Repeats Last Year's Victory

DERBY, Conn. – The Yale women's crew team opened the season in style on Saturday, as it clinched the collegiate eight event at the Head of the Housatonic race at home in Derby, Conn., by a margin of over 25 seconds.

It was a dominant performance by the Bulldogs, who also tasted victory at last year's Head of the Housatonic race, as the varsity boat cruised through the finish in a time of 15:45.3, ahead of a crew from Ivy League rivals Harvard, which finished in a time of 16:10.9.

"This is a great way to start our fall season, on our home river against oldest rival, Harvard," said head coach William Porter. "We get to see right away where we stand."

The varsity boat's victory was the not only success the Yale team experienced on Saturday, with crews cleaning sweeping the collegiate pair, collegiate coxed four and collegiate novice eight events through the day.

In particular, the Yale crew that took part in the collegiate coxed four event glided past competition to finish a full 18 seconds ahead of second-place Harvard.

"We have a long way to go, we have only really rowed about 3 weeks because of the hurricane and Ivy Rest days," Porter said. "We are just getting started, but this team has great spirit and like to work hard. They are showing themselves to be fun to work with."

The Bulldogs will get a rest next weekend, before they compete at the Oct. 22-23 Head of the Charles regatta in Cambridge, Ma.